18 NATO Members to Commit 2% of GDP to Defense, Stoltenberg Announces
18 NATO members are on track to meet the alliance's target of spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence in 2024, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Wednesday.
"I expect that this year 18 allies will spend 2% of their GDP on defence," Stoltenberg said ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers. He noted that in 2014, only three NATO members were spending 2% of their GDP on defence.
The increase in defence spending comes amid heightened tensions with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Stoltenberg said that the additional investments will help to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence capabilities.
"We are making real progress, European allies are spending more," Stoltenberg said. "But some allies still have a long way to go."
The 2% target was set by NATO leaders at a summit in Wales in 2014. At the time, only four allies – the United States, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Estonia – were meeting the target.
The United States has long been a vocal critic of NATO allies who do not meet the 2% target. Former President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to withdraw U.S. support from NATO if allies did not increase their defence spending.
The increase in defence spending by NATO allies is a significant development, and it is likely to be welcomed by the United States. It is also a sign of the growing commitment of European allies to their own defence.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
